Women's Softball

Denison defeated Hiram 13-2 to capture their fourth NCAC Tournament Championship on Sunday in Meadville, Pa.

The Big Red jumped all over Hiram College with four runs in the bottom of the first inning and put a seven-spot on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning, highlighted by a Mary Beth Krolikowski (Brunswick, Ohio/Holy Name) grand slam, clinching the 2008 North Coast Athletic Conference tournament championship with a 13-2 win over the Terriers.

Denison, who entered the tournament as the No. 3 seed, never lost a game as they defeated Ohio Wesleyan 5-0 in the first round and then topped Hiram on Saturday and again this morning to lock up their fourth NCAC Tournament championship.  The Big Red will advance to the NCAA Division III Softball Championships next week at a site yet to be determined.

Denison's four-run first was helped out by a pair of Terrier errors but made possible by Alex Murray's (Mayfield Heights, Ohio/NDCL) two run double to right center.  Brie Berkopec (Mars, Pa./Mars), who went 6-for-11 (.545) in the three tournament games, drove in the game's first run with an RBI single to center.  Murray would later come around to score after Claire Kopko (Washington, Pa./Trinity) reached base on an error.

Hiram score a run in the second and third inning, but DU matched the Terriers in the home half of each frame and led 6-2 heading into the bottom of the fourth.

With two outs and runners on first and second, Kopko tripled to gap in right center, scoring Murray and Sam Rumschlag (Carmel, Ind./Cathedral).  After a Rachel Cotterman (New Lexington, Ohio/Fischer Catholic) walk, Erica Evans (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) singled to left and drove in Kopko.  Ali Teopas (Sylvania, Ohio/Northview) drew her second walk of the day, loading the bases for Krolikowski who blasted her second home run of the season over the wall in left field.

Now with an 11-run advantage, Rumschlag took to the circle in the top of the fifth and after the first batter reached base on an error, and the second via a fielders choice, she would retire the following three batters to lock up the championship and the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Denison's last tournament title came in 2006 when the Big Red defeated Ohio Wesleyan.

Senior starting pitcher Bri Scrofano (Longs, S.C./McDowell) pitched three innings and allowed one earned run off five hits.  She won her third game of the tournament and improved her record to 15-4.  Rumschlag pitched the final two innings and did not allow a run.  She picked up her second save of the season.

Berkopec was named the tournament's most valuable player as she drove in five runs in three games and led DU in hits.  Her season batting average rose to .398 after the three games in Meadville.  Earning all-tournament team honors was Teopas, Scrofano, Evans and Krolikowski.

Teopas was 4-for-9 (.444) with two RBIs, three runs scored and two walks.  Scrofano, as stated earlier, led DU to wins in all three games played over the weekend. In 17.0 innings pitched she allowed six earned runs and fanned nine.  Evans hit .375 for the week and did not commit an error in 25 total chances at first base.  Krolikowski led the team with seven RBIs and was 4-for-12 with a double, four runs scored and the grand slam.

Denison's record improves to 25-10 while Hiram's season comes to a close at 18-20.  The pairings for the NCAA Division III Championships are scheduled to be announced on Monday (May 5).  Check back to the Denison athletics homepage for updates.